Scottish Wildcat

[MacCathmhaoil]

Sadly it seems the news all too grim for the wildcat!

http://www.scotsman.com/news/environ...inct-1-3601814

[Orionson]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotlan...lands-30002335

Try this link. I lived on a farm in Strathpeffer for more than 10 years and a proper Wildcat was a regular visitor to the garden.

[Calgacus]

With the correct resources & management there is no reason why the domestic cat genes can't be bred out of the population. Even if there are no pure bred cats left, they can be 'recreated' by selective breeding, so long as all the 'pure' genes exist somewhere in the population.

So, all is not lost, but it will take dedication, support from the public, landowners and government, and sufficient finances for this to actually happen.

[creagdhubh]

With the correct resources & management there is no reason why the domestic cat genes can't be bred out of the population. Even if there are no pure bred cats left, they can be 'recreated' by selective breeding, so long as all the 'pure' genes exist somewhere in the population.

So, all is not lost, but it will take dedication, support from the public, landowners and government, and sufficient finances for this to actually happen.

Well said, Richard.

[Mike S]

Very unfortunate. Especially to me, as the wildcat is the clan crest of my Sutherland branch.

[Pleater]

At one time the Human race comprised a few thousand individuals, and quite a few of them would have appeared - rather eccentric.
The Przewalsky horse was extinct, but someone went around and took all the ones which looked most like the original from the local farmers etc and then bred them together picking out the most aboriginal looking ones from the offspring - though they are probably an 'improved' version of the original, and a bit 'prettier' because it is only Human to select taller sleeker types.

I am sure that with a concerted effort the domestic cats and their hybrids could be removed, either by live trapping or shooting, and also by insisting that domestic tom cats are neutered or humanely confined.

I'm afraid that the domestic genes can't be bred out. It would have to be achieved by testing and killing or neutering all those with the DNA - but hybrids are notorious for being vigorous, healthy strong and beautiful, so the result could be a reduction in the number of cats with the very features which are admired in the present wild population.

It should be possible to remove - for instance, all cats which are not the right colour for Wildcats, as a start. Following that up with trapping young cats and assessing them by appearance and demeanour for Wildcat-ness, and releasing only those with the most authentic traits in areas where Wildcats would do well, would decrease the visible evidence of hybridisation, and would also mean that any DNA which is favourable to the appearance and behaviour would be preserved, even if it is not 'pure' wildcat - for all things must evolve as the environment changes, otherwise it will be made extinct by natural means rather than man made ones.

It would be expensive....

Anne the Pleater :ootd: .

[Alan H]

I suspect that genetically tested felix silvestris will have to be re-introduced from Europe and North America at some point. It sucks, but sometimes you do what you gotta do.